Barau assures justice for 16 slain hunters, donates N16m to families

• M’Belt group cautions against retaliation
Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, yesterday, visited Bunkure Local Council of Kano State to sympathise with families of the 16 hunters murdered in Uromi, Edo State.

He met with the families, drawn from Bunkure, Kibiya, Rano and Garko council areas, at the At-Taqwa Mosque in the Sabon Fegi area of Bunkure council, where he reassured them that justice would be served.

Besides the 14 suspects earlier arrested, the lawmaker representing Kano North Senatorial District told relatives that the security agents had also apprehended two more persons in connection with the killing.

Barau hinted of intention to sponsor a motion on the matter when the Senate resumes later this month, even as he announced a N1 million donation each to the 16 families.

Speaking on behalf of the families, the Chief Imam of the area, Sheikh Zainul Abidina Auwal, thanked the senator for his efforts in ensuring justice, describing him as the leader needed for the country’s development.

IN the meantime, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has warned trouble shooters against playing up the killings to foment unrest in the North.

While condemning the Uromi mob action, the body highlighted the need to avoid any retaliation.

In a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Luka Binniyat, MBF said it “is aware of inflammatory threats and unguarded statements from certain disgruntled elements claiming to defend the interests of the Arewa North following the unacceptable extra-judicial killing of 16 citizens in Uromi, Edo State, last week.”

Binniyat added that those individuals attacked, “reportedly armed hunters, were travelling from Port Harcourt to Kano when they met their untimely death in the hands of mobs, who accused them of being kidnappers.”